Ms Adlam was sworn in by her moving counsel, Tauranga barrister Kaye Davies.
Mrs Davies said she was honoured to be part of Mrs Adlam's achievements and was proud of her for achieving her law degree later in life.
Tauranga's Kelly Cotter, Carly Christie, Naomi Williams, Jeremy Sparrow and Mount Maunganui's Liane Valentine were also admitted in yesterday's ceremony, along with Judith Wilson from Whakatane.
Ahead of the ceremony, Mr Sparrow, 24, said he was "pretty excited" to be admitted to the High Court bar and looked forward to work at Tauranga law firm Holland Beckett Lawyers.
High Court of New Zealand deputy registrar, Stephen Hewlett, said it was the first ceremony of the year in Tauranga and the biggest admission to date.